There’s often a fine line between giving a drug addict your support and enabling self-destructive behavior. How do you know when you’re enabling instead of helping?
- Your help perpetuates the addiction. Examples might be paying an addict’s rent when he’s spent all his money on drugs or letting him use your cell phone to set up deals.
- You’re covering up the addict’s behavior. If you’re often calling an addict’s boss or family to lie about her erratic behavior, you’re enabling rather than helping.
- You feel like you’re being manipulated. Addicts can be extremely manipulative. If your intuition tells you that an addict is lying to you or playing with your emotions in order to get your help, you’re probably right.
- Helping the addict endangers your own welfare. If you’re late paying your own bills because you’ve been lending money to an addict, or you’re giving him rides to sketchy neighborhoods so he can score, it’s time to stop enabling and start looking out for yourself.
Medical Reviewer
Dr. Balta is the Medical Director at FCR for more than 10 years. Dr. Balta is Board Certified in Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, Certified Psychoanalyst. As well, as having Psychiatric Training at The Albert Einstein School of Medicine Psychiatric Residency Program In New York City and Psychoanalytic Training at The William Alanson White Institute in New York City. While working in New York City, gained funding Grants for the treatment of Substance Abuse Disorders from SAMHSA , HRSA and the City of New York.
